Thirty years ago, I worked at Newbury Comics, for a 20-year-old, it was the coolest job I could have had. I met some of the greatest people, many of whom I am still friends with. So many creative types, artists, and musicians. We were all destined to do greater things. One of them was Corey. Over the years, I have taken his photo with his band, The Cast Irons. And Corey has taken my photo with his 1800s setup. Today it was my turn again – visiting and taking some photos of his newly opened shop New England Sketch Book, in Newburyport, MA. The shop sells unique art from local artisans. It is a must-visit location right off downtown near the waterfront. The space itself is historically fascinating, filled with stories and an incredible representation of both Corey and the area. If you are nearby visit, check out the website here.

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One of those days, I am sure we all have a couple. You remember them, they remember you, and things tend to happen on them. June 7th is one of those days for me. I started jobs on June 7th (more than one), I graduated High School on June 7th, I bought a business on June 7th, and I won this basketball on June 7th… 1996. Now two of those things were on the same day, the ball and the business, both happened within an hour of each other.

I have talked about the shop here before, also on June 7th, 2016. You can read the story here. It was the 20th anniversary of that day – there are photos from that day, I am wearing a tie with a short-sleeved button-down, you can never unsee it. Why bring it up again? The ball, I cleaned out my shed a few days ago and found the Sprite Ball. That day I was waiting to go to the lawyers to sign the papers. I was killing time, walked down to CVS, bought a Sprite, and the cap told me I was an instant winner. Because I tend not to show much emotion – especially back then (this is my happy face) – everyone found it funny that I was very excited about winning the ball. It seems I was more excited than purchasing the business. Jokes on them, I still have the ball. I do not have that business. It’s a strange trophy that will always be tied to June 7th.

In looking for a photo accompanying this post, I came across the one below. Not June 7th. I believe it was November or December 1998. Back then, I would spend 20+ hours at the shop developing holiday photos, so my wife would bring Anna down to see me. I would get to hold her for a while, still working, of course, and look at the shelf behind us, still supporting Sprite.

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Twenty-five years ago today, I bought a business. Today I am 47, so you can do the math. If age is just a number, then society is the timekeeper. I was young, ‘younger’ than most 22-year-olds now. Kids are older now, more mature. Yet some fool in a bank gave me a loan, a large loan to buy a business at a young 22. I dare you to find a bank that would provide a 22-year-old today that same loan in the same circumstances. It would not happen. It would not occur because the people making the decisions know what they were like at that age and think they would not have deserved that chance… and they might be right. So we punish the young now by transferring our ignorance to them. We have erased risk to the point that mistakes are no longer tools to learn from. In doing so, I feel we are silencing a generation and then turning on that same generation and calling them lazy. The math does not work.

Yet, the math is simple. ‘Older’ make the rules, based on the behaviors ‘older’ think they should have been held to. Then judges ‘younger’ based on those made-up rules – the answer or sum, ‘older’ gets mad at ‘younger’ for questioning the system they had no hand in creating. The older I get, the more respect I have for youth. I love when they challenge things, get us riled up. Maybe it is the graduation I photographed yesterday and the speeches on the future and opportunity, or perhaps it is the thoughts of the 22-year-old me being told NO so many times before that yes. I will always root for youth over experience. Someone has to because if no one did, 25 years ago today, I would not have bought a business. End of rant. Thank you for joining my Ted Tim Talk.

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Tis the season. Three roses picked up at the new flower shop in my neighborhood, Luna’s Flower Shop. What are your plans for Valentine’s day? I am holding an open house at the studio. Going out all dressed up? Low key plans? You and your Valentine need a nice photo? Stop by Tim Rice Photo for a FREE, quick portrait. You get free downloads, ready to share/post to show your love. High Res files & prints available for purchase – No purchase or appointment necessary. 19 Lincoln St. Medway – Barn in the Back. More photos from Luna’s below.

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Seems fitting the last toy I ever purchased from Toys R Us was this Geoffrey figure. Now I realize he is not the original Geoffrey I grew up with but still… he was on the floor in a package as I waited in line, so why not. Just adding another store to the list of stores I most likely complained about at some point, only to be sad when it closed. The top of that list is Lechmere, man I loved to hate Lechmere, to the point when they went out of business I had been banned for life, no joke my name was on a list, damn I miss sneaking back in and buying camera equipment. As a kid I preferred Child’s World, they were cooler stores, but with my kids we would go to Toys R Us to make Christmas lists. In the end I am sorry to see anything that competes (in this case not well I understand) with Walmart. Eight years Walmart free… that time by choice I was not banned, I was more encouraged not to come back.

I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid
they got a million toys at Toys R us that I can play with
I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid
they got the best for so much less, it’ll really flip your lid
From bikes to trains to video games
it’s the biggest toy store there is (gee whiz!)
I don’t wanna grow up, cause maybe if I did
I couldn’t be a Toys R Us kid
more games, more toys, oh boy!
I wanna be a Toys R Us kid

RIP

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